. >> our latest nbc news maris poll shows an 8 point lead over his opponent ken cuccinelli. mark, you're the first read team, wrote about the race and position it what we're watching take place in new jersey as well. >> two things going on. on the one hand in the republican party, you have what is seen -- kind of playing out in virginia where republicans say we need to be a conservative party first and foremost. in new jersey, where chris christie is running for re-election, you end up having a different argument where chris christie who is conservative, is saying we need to win races first and foremost. almost electability versus ideology argument playing out. chris christie appears to be cruising towards re-election and ken cuccinelli is trailing mccalliffe. >> as exploring this as the 2016 proxy fight between clinton and christie. >> one of the reasons it's a proxy fight, a lot of people working on the terry mccalliffe campaign, there are folks who wouldn't play a big role in the hillary clinton for president campaign, on the other hand chris christie doing well in the ex